"It's a step in the right direction," Marquis said. "I got some quick outs. My breaking ball wasn't as sharp as I wanted it, but I'm still trying to get comfortable with my delivery. I'll keep working. I'm building my pitch count up to allow myself to go deeper into games."

Craig Stammen allowed two unearned runs and two hits in four innings for Washington.

"He's been good throughout. He's really been making a case for himself being in the rotation," manager Jim Riggleman said. "He's not taking anything for granted. He's competing and pitching very well in circumstances where we didn't really play very well behind him. The winds blowing out like it was, but he was able to hold things down there for us."

Pelfrey was charged with six runs, five earned, and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. Chris Carter had three hits for the Mets, and Henry Blanco doubled twice.

NOTES: Before the game, the Nationals optioned RHP Shairon Martis to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigned INF Pete Orr and OF Chris Duncan to minor league camp. That leaves 36 players in Washington's major league camp.